CRAIG LYON will make the first defence of his English bantamweight title against Josh Wale later this month in a fascinating Lancashire-Yorkshire battle.

They will clash on the undercard when Stephen Foster Jr’s defends his European super-featherweight title against Belgium’s Ermano Fegatilli in the Premier Suite at Bolton’s Reebok Arena on Saturday 26th February.

Lyon, 29, won the English title last October when Wale’s fellow Yorkshireman Ross Burkinshaw was pulled out by his corner after five rounds.

That win stretched his unbeaten record to 12 wins, but the St Helens man will have his work cut out against Wale in their ten rounder.

Barnsley’s Wale, 22, was desperately unlucky in a Prizefighter super-bantamweight tournament nine months ago, losing a semi-final split decision to Willie Casey who won the event and next month fight’s for the world title.

Wale comes in this fight fresh off a points win over Yoan Boyeaux, and Hatton Promotions head Ricky Hatton said: “This will be a thriller and might even steal the show.

“What excites me even more that we have two genuine prospects looking to fight the best and not avoid tough contests.

“This is the sort of contest that will launch a career and TV viewers on the night are in for a lot of excitement.”

Also fighting on the Sky televised bill is Mancunian Olympic star Joe Murray. He is up against tough Frenchman Daniel Kodjo Sassou who recently took Scott Quigg 12 rounds.